Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Wilson shines as Saints belt Assumption

The Xavier Saints are always looking to improve, but if they get much better than this it's going to get downright scary.

The second-ranked Saints exploded for touchdowns on their first six possessions in the first half Friday night and clobbered Davenport Assumption, 52-20, in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs at Saints Field.

Xavier (10-0) will host Waverly-Shell Rock (7-3) in the quarterfinals next Friday. The Saints whipped the Go-Hawks, 42-0, in the seventh game of the regular season three weeks ago.

Xavier tailback Maliki Wilson galloped for 230 yards and scored four touchdowns on runs of 4, 69, 7 and 62 yards, giving the mercurial senior 1,665 yards for the campaign. And pinpoint passer Bryce Schulte was on the money again for 172 yards and two TD strikes to Nolan Butkowski in the easy victory.

Schulte broke another of his older brother's passing records with 4,061 career yards, snapping Reggie Schulte's old mark of 4,002.

The Saints led, 42-6, midway through the second quarter and it was time for the congregation to pass in the song books, because this service was over.

"It was just all clicking tonight," Wilson said after the romp on a balmy night, "and hopefully it continues on like that."

Xavier led 45-6 at halftime and it quickly became 52-6 in the first minute of the second half when Wilson broke loose for his 62-yard touchdown.

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Gerke helps Saints pin their opponents

Josh Gerke likes to run, he likes to wrestle and he likes to knock people down.

That makes him one of the most versatile high school athletes in Iowa and a three-sport star for the Xavier Saints.

Gerke, a senior, placed in three events at the Class 3A state track meet last spring as a premier half-miler. He's already collected 115 victories as a top wrestler for the Saints, making him only the fourth grappler at Xavier to top 100 wins with another full season to go.

And right now he's a big contributor for the Xavier football team that is undefeated and ranked No. 2 in Class 3A heading into the opening round of the playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. against Davenport Assumption at Saints Field.

He's fast, he's tough and he's talented.

"He excels in everything he does," said Xavier wrestling coach Ryan Chambers. "One of the most dedicated athletes I have ever coached."

Not a lot of guys can crack 2 minutes in the 800 meter run, pin 72 opponents in wrestling, and excel as a defensive back and kick return specialist for one of the top football teams in Iowa.

"And he's a great kid," said Xavier football coach Duane Schulte. "He'll run through a brick wall if you ask."

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Saints sweep into 4A regional finals

The Xavier High School volleyball team has been working since August to reach the Class 4A state tournament at the U.S. Cellular Center next month.

Now they are only one step away.

The sixth-ranked Saints swept Fort Madison, 25-17, 25-23, 25-16, in the regional semifinals at Ron Thillen Gymnasium Tuesday night.

Xavier (30-9) will host eighth-ranked Clinton (22-13) in the regional finals Monday night, with the winner earning a trip to downtown Cedar Rapids for the state meet.

The Saints should be filled with confidence when they face Clinton. They whipped the River Queens in two matches at the North Scott tournament Sept. 10, winning both contests 2-0 by a combined count of 92-57.

The Saints will be confident, but not over-confident.

"They have something in the back of their heads, but they know it's not promised," said Xavier Coach Austin Filer. "They have to work hard for it."

In fact, the Saints had to work hard against Fort Madison before pulling out a victory in straight sets. The Bloodhounds led 23-21 late in the second set, but the Saints rallied and won the last four points for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 lead.

Filer appeared to stay calm in the second set, even when his club trailed 10-5 early.

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Saints host Assumption in 3A opener

The Xavier Saints will host Davenport Assumption in the opening round of the Class 3A football playoffs this Friday at 7 p.m. at Saints Field.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association posted all the brackets on its website Saturday morning following the end of the regular season Friday night.

Xavier finished the regular season at 9-0 overall and captured the District 3 title with a 7-0 mark. Assumption finished 7-2 overall and went 6-1 in District 4 as the district runner-up.

The Saints and Knights did not have any common opponents this season. Xavier won at Davenport Assumption, 30-6, in 2014 and beat Assumption again last year, 14-7, at Saints Field.

The entire bracket for the Class 3A playoffs has been pre-determined this season, unlike recent years when the IHSAA determined opponents on a round-by-round basis.

If the Saints defeat Davenport Assumption, they will host West Delaware (8-1) or Waverly-Shell Rock (6-3) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 4 at Saints Field, according to the IHSAA rules for determining second-round hosts.

Xavier was placed on the same side of the 16-team bracket with Pella, which means the second-ranked Saints would meet the top-ranked Dutch in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 10 in the UNI-Dome if they both get that far.

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